What are the "Good" bike companies?

I see so many people hating on the walmart and big box bikes, and I realized that I don't really know what bikes are "good" bikes. The reason I ask is my brother runs scrap, and often is out and about grabbing anything metal during garbage days, and I remembered he usually finds a few bikes. I know he's scrapped nice old stuff, but because they are road bikes I've never paid much attention. I want to get him watching for me in case he picks up something decent that someone is tossing just because it needs a little work. (cheap upgrade for me!)

Ones I know:

Trek, Motobecane(Sp?), Fuji, Giant, Surley....

others?

Thanks!

Last edited by andrewtclarkson; 08-30-11 at 04:06 PM.

Sick of the elitist ******. Too many good things around to waste my time here!

FWIW most scrap yards buy....SCRAP and they are interested in turning it over to make their money back. I helped a friend rescue a 1950's vintage Airstream from a local scrap yard not too long back. The yard didn't care what it was as long as they got their money for it. Some, and I suspect they are in the extreme minority, might recognize that something is worth more as a whole than as scrap.

Aaron

Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(

fiets- I don't have 500 bucks minimum to drop on a bike right now. I can however, spend a few bucks to fix something up. Not all of us can justify that sort of money on a bike in our present situations.

wahoo- exactly. They don't care what it is, they only see scrap value $). Same as my brother. So if I tell him I'll give him 20 bucks for any bike with X name on it, that's 15 bucks more than the yard gives him, and he'll drop it off.

I have seen him toss some primo looking stuff. I'll post pics if he drops off anything cool.

Sick of the elitist ******. Too many good things around to waste my time here!

We have a local Youth For Christ organization that will take all the crappy Wal-bikes we can provide for them. The kids fix them up and donate them at Christmas time. The functional ones get repaired and the junkers get scrapped for parts.

Felt, Serotta, Independent Fabrications, and more and more and more...
Too many good ones to make a useful list.
I'd say a list of ones to avoid is better. You should ask this over in C&V. Those guys know how to dumpster dive!

Also, if you are just looking for yourself, you should tell him what size frame your after.

All bikes are good! Many (actually, most sold) are just very low quality and price, as you'd find at Walmart, and the price reflects the level of quality that you receive.
Many of brands are mass-produced in the same factories in Asia (and are owned by the same companies, e.g. Cannondale/Pacific/Dorel).
Try on some of these frames: http://2012.handmadebicycleshow.com/

I see so many people hating on the walmart and big box bikes, and I realized that I don't really know what bikes are "good" bikes. The reason I ask is my brother runs scrap, and often is out and about grabbing anything metal during garbage days, and I remembered he usually finds a few bikes. I know he's scrapped nice old stuff, but because they are road bikes I've never paid much attention. I want to get him watching for me in case he picks up something decent that someone is tossing just because it needs a little work. (cheap upgrade for me!)

Ones I know:

Trek, Motobecane(Sp?), Fuji, Giant, Surley....

others?

Thanks!

See, you have a basic confusion that many suffer from. Nothing that comes from a giant box store is a bicycle. It may look like a bicycle from some angles, the "associates" may even refer to it as a bicycle but do not kid yourself. It is NOT a bicycle. It is a BSO, a Bicycle Shaped Object.

Real bicycles mostly come from real bicycle shops but occasionally places on the interwebs and stores like REI etc. But at the giant box store, probably not.

"A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist."

No mention of cost or quality.

Elitists use words like "BSO" and tell new forum members that the things you buy at walmart are not bikes, and that we are confused, to make themselves feel better about some inadequacy they can't seem to get over. I have been/am part of an awful lot of forums, and this one is one of the WORST for this attitude. It's disgusting and ridiculous, in all honesty.

Now everyone, don't get me wrong. I am in awe of some of your bikes. I love your passion for them, be it upgrading, restoring, riding thousands and thousands of miles or just commuting to work. But it's not fair to hate on someone else just because they don't/can't/will not want/afford/not buy a 500-1000-2000 dollar plus bike for any reason.

I've had my Costco bike for nearly 5 years. It's probably got a couple thousand miles on it. It sits out in the rain and snow. Up until last week, I hadn't put a wrench to drop of lube to it. There is nearly no rust, I adjusted up the derailleurs to work perfect, tightened up the brakes a bit, put reflective tape, lights and fenders on it (all bought online... ohhhh no) and will now ride it to work every day. And I'll bet it works awesome. Not as good as your 3000 dollar bike, or even your 500 dollar bike, but I'm having a blast riding, and really, what else matters?

I've had enough of this forum. To everyone who has been helpful, thank you. To the elitist ******- may the road be full of sharp things that flatten your tires.

Mods- hopefully you will read this. Feel free to delete my account. I won't be back.

Sick of the elitist ******. Too many good things around to waste my time here!

Sorry you won't be around to read this, andrewtclarkson, but a bicycle forum is by definition going to be populated by bicycle enthusiasts. The majority of enthusiasts in any endeavor are going to favor the better quality items that they're enthusiastic about. If you're surprised by the reaction you got, which IMO was by and large civil (even if it didn't validate your own choice or preferences), is it the fault of the enthusiasts, or perhaps a skewed expectation on your part? It certainly didn't deserve name calling.

Something to think about, or it would be if you were still here and reading this, which apparently you're not.